
Our Team

Deborah Swan
Founder & Administrator, Hefflin Legacy Foundation
Deborah Swan is a retired educator, aerospace engineer, and passionate cultural preservationist. She founded the Hefflin Legacy Foundation to honor the life and legacy of her grandfather, Leon Hefflin Sr.—the visionary behind the Cavalcade of Jazz, considered the world’s first annual jazz
festival.
After a 20-year career in aerospace, Deborah became an award-winning educator with the Los Angeles Unified School District, where she inspired students through science, math, and culturally relevant history. Her greatest achievement was founding the “Black Wings Children’s Museum,” celebrating African-American contributions to aerospace—a project now supported by the Hefflin Legacy Foundation.
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Since retirement, Deborah has dedicated herself to restoring Leon Hefflin Sr.’s place in American history. She authored the 540-page photographic book The Impresario Leon Hefflin and the World’s First Annual Jazz Festival and established digital archives, Wikipedia entries, and public exhibits to ensure his story is never forgotten.
Meet The Team

Debbie Brown
Secretary
Debbie grew up in the Air Force and lived across the United States and Europe. She graduated from Central Missouri State University with a degree in business administration. After relocating to California, her first position was for Architectural Digest and Bon Appetit magazines. She's held various positions with the City of Compton in Parks and Recreation, the Police Department, and Compton College. Debbie retired from Oaktree Capital Management after 23 years, where she was responsible for closing bank loans for par and distressed trades with major investment firms and banks This involved reviewing credit agreements, coordinating loan closings with counterparties and banks, resolving trade-related issues, and communicating effectively with traders and portfolio managers.
She is a member of Faith Inspirational Church in Compton.

Patricia Valenzuela
Treasurer
Patricia is an Angeleno born and raised. She attended St. Mary’s College in Moraga, CA, and majored in Accounting with a minor in Art. She left St. Mary’s to support her parents when her father had a stroke and her mother, who paid daily visits to the convalescent hospital. She continued her studies in accounting and landed accounting jobs in the entertainment industry and later with the Los Angeles Lakers, where she retired after 18 years. Patricia is also currently a member of Adams Normandie Neighborhood Association as Treasurer


Deborah Swan is shown with fellow recipients of the AIAA Award in Washington D.C. (pictured above)
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Deborah Swan is with her husband, Keith, at the AIAA Gala in Washington D.C. (pictured to the left)
